Condenser apparatus



April 9, 1940- D. w. R. MORGAN 2,196,641

' commnssn APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Shut 1 INVENTOR Dawn W R Momma.

ATTORNEY April 9, 1940.

p. w. R. MORGAN CONDENSER APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I Dawn W R. Monann.

-a- ATTORNEY I My invention relatesto turbine and arrangements and it has for" an object to proi also necessitate increase insize ofthe'shaft and Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES of Pennsylvania J Application Ju y-15.1933, Serial; No.1 219,305

condenser vide turbine supporting means extending through and embodied as a part of the condenser structure. I

"In the application of steam turbines tocen tral stations, 3600 R. P. turbines are being widely used and there is atendency to employ two low-pressure turbines in: tandem in installae tions; however, the tandem arrangement makes installation of the condenser diflicult because of the necessary bearing, as well as supporting meanstherefor, between" the turbines. While the distance between the turbines may-"be increased to facilitate provision of the bearing sup-- porting means and the installationof condensers, this would'not only increase the turbine cost, but

possibly introduce a critical speed problem, and there would'also be a condenser for each tu'rbine.

connection between the condensers obviouslyis an expensive one. In accordance with the prescondenser. A single condenser arranged in this way is more economical and has better perform ance because of improved steam distribution and the cost is reduced, 'not only'be'cause there'isbut one condenser, but also on-account of the incidental-reduced piping cost'and the absence of any special equalizing equipment that 'wouldbe required for twin condensers. g l

A "further object of the invention is the provision of novel supporting means for the'mainbearing between two low pressureturbines are;

ranged in tandem.

Another object of the invention .is the pro vision of a condenser structure embodying sup-, porting. means for its associated turbine orturbines. ff;-

Another object of mewmvenuen is the provision of a pair of turbines arranged in tandem with a'single condenser associated therewith and positioned therebelo v, together with supporting means for a common bearing at the adjacent,

ends of theturbines, the supporting means extending vertically through the steam spaceofthe' condenser.

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of a The installation-10f the twin-condenser;- arrangement, the necessary piping, and equalizing 8 cl ims; (or. so-

' "Ihese'andlother objects are effected by my in vention' as will be'apparent: from the following description' 'and claims taken. in connection with the accompanying drawings-forming a part of this applicatiomin which? v turbine and. condenser aggregate;'wi th a portion thereofbrokenaway'for the sake of clearness;

apparatus shown in Fig. 1';

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the Fig.3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2; I v H 'Fig. 4 is" an -enlarged fragmentary; view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3; and," Fig. 5 .is a fragmentary view of a portion of a modification thereof. v v

In the drawings, there is shown, at llLaturthe structure shown in Fig. :2, andiillustrating .bine and condenser. aggregate comprised by a pairof low "pressure turbines I, arranged in tandem for "driving the single shaft 12, and having their adjacent ends 13 carried by a common transverse [support I41 Exhaust steam casings l6 are provided; connecting the turbines with the exhaust "steam inlet l T-of the condenser'lBQthe latter being comprised by-fl a' shellv l9 having a condensate" outlet ZU-an'd a plurality of tubes?! extending longitudinally through the shell and having "theirterminal' portions mounted in end tube plates 22. Waterbox structures 23 are associated with the end tube plates and are-pro vided with water connections 24. Preferably, an air ofitake 25"is disposed concentrically with respect to the tubes 2|, and bafiies 25a are located v at spaced points above and below the air ofi'take' to prevent short-circuiting of the entering steam. A pair-of supporting members or column structures ZS-extend vertically through the shell of the condenseradjacent the inner faces-of the end tube plates. The lower ends of the columns or supports project below the condenser and are carried byia suitable foundation or footing 21'. The upper ends of the columns orsupports proje'ct above the condenser'shelland carry a transverse beam 28 securedthereto in any desirable manner, a'sby brackets 29. 'Ihe'columns 25 and 'the beam 28 carry'the common'transverse support 14* of the adjacent ends I3 of the turbines.

v Preferably, the columns Mi are comprised by steel shapes'of I or H section, such as shown in j 4, havingdouble'fianges 31 adjacent the edge whichis disposed in close proximity to the end tube plates 22'. The columns not only supportthe central bearing of the turbines, but togetherwith the casings 16, also. carry the weight of the conor more sections.

denser by having the end tube plates 22 bolted or otherwise securedthereto. Generally, in installations involving the use ofa pair of low pressure turbines, the condenser will be of such size as to require end tube plates made in two Insuch an arrangement, the

columns 26 overlie the vertical joint 32 between the two sections of the end tube plate. These sections maybe held in place by a plurality of bolts 33 extending through the edges thereof and the overlying flanges 3! of the member 26. Pref-= erably, leakage at the joint and arou-ndthe bolts is prevented by the provision of a sealing strip 1 34 and compressible gasketstfi andfil the former being disposed'between the sealing strip and the tubeplate sections and the latter being positioned beneath the nuts on the bolts 33.

To avoid misalignment in lathe fturbine arrangement, due to expansion or contraction ofthe ;co1-

umns 25, the portion of the latter in the steam' space is insulated. Any suitable insulation may be used, such asshownat 39 in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 5, there'is illustrateda'possible variation of the previously described construction; wherein the columns project abovetheco-ndenser only a relatively short distance. lliny additional length needed for these supports may be pro vided as aseparate unit, and-the two secured together in any desired manner, as by lap plates 1!. This arrangement permits of .manuiacture and assembly'of thecondenser and columns-and the independent provision of the remaining sup: porting structuresuitable to the requirements of the particularinstallation.

The arrangement constituting the subjectmatter of this invention in nowise lessens the efiiciency of the condenser, asthe space, occupied by, the columns is not generally usable ;for condensing surface since the tube plate'-must-be made 'intwo sections andthe yertical jointrtherebetween provided with asupportcorresponding roughly to the columns.

While I have shown my inventiondn'several forms, itwill be obviousto those skilled in the art that itis not so limited, but'issusceptibleiof various other: changes 1 and .modifications with out departingfrom theispirit thereofyand I -de sire, therefore, that -only:suchilimitations "shall 'be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended -'claims.

What I claimis:

l. The combination with "turbine having an exhaust casing, 'of a surface condenser, "having the interior of its shell in communication with said casing, column structures extending vertically across the interior ofthe shell, said-column structures having'lower end "portions extending extericrly and below the shell'and havingupper portions extending exteriorlyof the shell'and of the exhaust casing, footings .for the lower ends of the columns, turbine supporting. mea,ns-.-carried by the upper ends of the columns, and means for connecting the shell to the exhaust casing.

2. The combination with two turbines in tan demand provided withexhaustcasings, of a sur face condenser iii-communication with said casings, means providing a common support for the adjacent ends of the turbines and embodying.

column structures extending diametrallytrans versely of the condenser and projecting above and below the latter, and means fOlL connecting the condenser to the exhaust casing and to-the column structures for its support therefrom.

3. The combination with a pair of turbines arranged in tandem and having exhaust casings, of a surface condenser, in communication with said casings comprised by a shell having an exhaust steam inlet in communication with the turbines and. a condensate outlet, tubes extending longitudinally through said shell, 2. pair of end-tube plates supporting theJterminal portions of 'said tubes and water boxes associated with said tube plates; means providing a common support for the adjacent ends of the turbines and embodying a pair of spaced columns extending through the condenser adjacent the tube platesymeans for connecting the condenser shell to the exhaust casings and for connecting the tube plates to the columns, whereby the condenser is supported by the turbines and columns.

4. In combination with a pair of turbines arrangedin tandem and "having exhaust casings; asurface condenser in communicationwith said casings and disposed therebeneath and cornprised'bya-shell having an exhaust steam inlet .within-ithe steam space to insulate :them from temperature changes.

.5. 'A surface condenser for use with a pair of turbines arrangedin tandem and having a common transverse supporting beam for their adjacent ends; comprised by a shell having an exhaust steam inlet and a. condensate outlet, a

plurality of tubes 7 extending longitudinally therethrough, a pair-"of end tube platessupporting the terminal portions of said tubes'and cooperating.,with the shell to define therein a steam space, water boxes associated with said end :tube plates, and a pair of columns extend- I 'ing; through the shelland steamspace and positioned substantially concentrically transversely "thereof, the lower ends of said columns projecting beyond the bottom ofzthe'shell for-cooperation with a foundation and the upper ends projecting beyond .the top ofthe shell for cooperation with the turbine transverse supporting beam to .support the latter. p

6. A structure as specified in claim5, wherein the columns are located adjacent the end tube plates and are secured thereto to partially support the latter. j

7. Arstructure as specified in claim 5 including means insulating the columns from the steam space. a

8. A structure as specified insclaim 5 wherein each tube sheet is comprised by at least twosections providing a vertical 1 joint transversely 'Qaligned with the columns, and each of the pair of columns'is comprised by a steel shape having a double flange-overlying the tube sheet sections adjacent the joint, and means securing the tube wsheet sections to-the overlying flanges of the columns.

.. DAVID -W. R. MORGAN. 

